If we spoke a different language, we would perceive a somewhat different world.
No one likes having offended another person; hence everyone feels so much better if the other person doesn't show he's been offended. Nobody likes being confronted by a wounded spaniel. Remember that. It is much easier patiently - and tolerantly - to avoid the person you have injured than to approach him as a friend. You need courage for that.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often prefer to avoid confronting someone they have hurt rather than face the discomfort of reconciliation.
This quote by Ludwig Wittgenstein reflects on the human tendency to evade uncomfortable situations, particularly when it comes to interpersonal relationships. It suggests that rather than confront the feelings of guilt or regret after offending someone, individuals might choose to distance themselves in order to maintain their own comfort. There is an acknowledgment that approaching someone you've hurt requires bravery and emotional strength, highlighting the complexities of human interactions and the delicate nature of feelings involved in relationships.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
In a team meeting where tensions were high, I shared this quote to remind everyone of the importance of tackling misunderstandings with courage.
More from Ludwig Wittgenstein
All quotes →One cannot guess how a word functions. One has to look at its use and learn from that. But the difficulty is to remove the prejudice which stands in the way of doing this. It is not a stupid prejudice.
It's impossible for me to say one word about all that music has meant to me in my life. How, then, can I hope to be understood?
Nothing is so difficult as not deceiving oneself.
My day passes between logic, whistling, going for walks, and being depressed. I wish to God that I were more intelligent and everything would finally become clear to me - or else that I needn't live much longer.
I am sitting with a philosopher in the garden; he says again and again 'I know that that’s a tree', pointing to a tree that is near us. Someone else arrives and hears this, and I tell him: 'This fellow isn’t insane. We are only doing philosophy.
Similar quotes
For I have learned that every heart will get_x000D_ What it prays for_x000D_ Most.
He who does not know how to look back at where he came from will never get to his destination.
I have a lot of what you might call creative self-loathing - I have pretty high expectations, and they seem to consistently be higher than what I'm able to accomplish.
Hold fast to the diary from today on! Write regularly! Don't surrender! Even if no salvation should come, I want to be worthy of it every moment.
Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it saved my ass.
Accomplish but do not boast, accomplish without show, accomplish without arrogance, accomplish without grabbing, accomplish without forcing.